Swindon Lives: Kev Tonner

After leaving Swindon and travelling the world, where he met his wife, he came back to Swindon and settled down. It was here his interest in triathlons was born. 

 

When did you do your first triathlon? 

 

I started doing them about 5 years ago - after a friend who represented GBR for duathlon and triathlon talked me into doing the Highworth Triathlon. I brought a second-hand bike and I have been hooked since! I've come from a running background, both parents were competitive runners - although I didn't compete. I was more of a social runner doing the odd 10k and half marathon. 

 

What was your toughest race?

 

The season after competing my first triathlon, I entered a half ironman distance race in Bala Snowdonia - which turned out to be the toughest race I have ever completed! With heavy rain, strong winds and cold conditions, 200 odd competitors dropped out with hypothermia! I managed to finish and decided to go back again the following year, with nicer weather! 

 

What kind of training do you do? 

 

Up until last year I have been writing my own plans and doing as I please with training. I was always just looking to compete with my own times rather than against others. I decided to look at getting a coach to write my plans for me and to get some consistent training in - to hopefully qualify for the GBR team at the world championships.

 

Have you had any set backs?

 

I saw some great improvements with my coach, and entered the qualifying event in Bristol. Which didn't quite go to plan. Positioning myself in the middle of the swim pack at the start, and then getting hit, kicked and climbed over for the first 300m of the swim meant I was too far down to catch the leaders on the bike and run. 

 

Last season wasn't a complete loss, even though I missed out on the worlds I did manage to win the men's senior race at Eton Dorney!

 

So, how did you push yourself further?

 

I took on the help of Ironman Pro Harry Wiltshire, and with the help of my swim coach Steve Cryer at SwimPodium. I worked hard over the winter months; working on my strength in the pool so I don't get beaten up in the swim again. I also spent hours on the bike, out in the cold, as well as running long miles.

 

How did your qualifying race go?

 

My main goal this season was to qualify for the GBR team at the worlds. I had two qualifying races; one at Rother Valley and the other Milton Keynes - which would also be the British Championships. 

 

My support crew, (my Wife Danielle and our 17 month old son Riley), and I turned up in Rother Valley, near Sheffield, on the Saturday to register and check out the course. Race day came around with the usual nerves - and the thought of getting beaten up in the swim! Luckily, all went to plan. I came out of the water high up in my age group. Next, I went out on the bike, a tough 26km two lap hill course which I knew I had to push. Coming in off the bike, I headed out on to the run, which, after speaking with my coach, my plan was to push hard for the first 10 minutes, then get into a rhythm and hold on to the finish.

 

How did you feel when it was over? 

 

Once I crossed the line, I headed straight to the results tent where I received a printout of my times. I knew the times were good and then just had to wait for the results to be published - to see if I had positioned high enough to take one of the four qualifying slots.

 

The next day the results were published and to my amazement, I had got the 3rd qualifying slot and I would be representing GBR at the world championships in Edmonton Canada!

 

It was a great week - and to top that off, one of my clients has offered to sponsor me to help towards kit and travel for the worlds. I am now looking for more sponsorship help to help me compete against the best age group triathletes in the world.